Thermostatic valve mechanism



' Jan. 8, 1929. 1,698,413

C- H. MORROW I THERMOSTATIC VALVE MECHANI SM Filed June 18, 1926 1 I II 145 Patented Jan. 8, 1929.

CLARENCE H. MOB-ROW, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGN'OR TO THE I'IO'I STREAM HEATER I COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORTPOEATION' OF OHIO. I

THERMOSTATIC VALVE MECHANISM.

Application filed June 18, 1926. Serial No. 116,831.

This invention relates to thermostatic valve mechanism for controlling the supply of gas to a water heater. I

The object of the present invention is to provide a thermostatic valve mechanism of simple and inexpensive construction, in which the valve. may be easily and simply initially set for operation at any desired temperature and this setting securely maintained by a pair of opposed lock nuts, the internal one of which is adapted to serve as a guide means for the valve stem; in which access is easily and conveniently afforded to the internal lock nut, and in which the gas chambers are effectively sealed against the entrance of the water to be heated and without the use of packed joints. Further objects of the invention arein part obvious and in part will appear more in detail hereinafter. [i In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a thermostatic valve mechanism embodying my invention; and Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view on the line 22, Fig. 1.

The valve mechanism shown in the drawing comprises a hollow casing .1 provided on two opposite sides with outwardly extending, internally threaded tubular portions 2 and 3 for connection respectively of the inlet and outlet gas conduits. An internal cross wall 4 divides the space within the casing into two gas receiving chambers, chamber-5 being as-' sociated with the gas inlet portion 2 whlle the chamber 6 is associated with the gas outlet portion 3. Said cross wall is provided with an opening 7 for establishing communlcatlon between the two gas chambers, and a valve 8 of disc form is provided for controlling thefiow of gas through said opening, as is usual. Thevalve 8 is mounted upon the rear end portion of a valve stem 12, said valve being provided with a centrally disposed, tubular extension 13 to receive said stem. Said extension projects into the gas receiving chamber 5 and is surrounded by one end portion of a compression spring 14, the other end portion of which lies within a recess 15 in a closure 16 threaded to the casing and normally closing an opening 17 in the rear side of the casing. This casing opening. 17 provides access to the interior of the gas chambers 5 and 6 as will later appear. The tendency of the spring ltis to move the valve 8 toward its seat on the cross wall 4, and

" due to the particular mounting of the valve upon the stem 12, said valve is free to assume various inclined positions on said stem and may, therefore, accommodate itself to its seat regardless of accuracy in alignment of the parts. This self-adjustability of the valve is provided by making the valve stem slightly smaller than the chamber within the valve extension 13, and by making the inner surface of the closed rear end of said extension on a more gradual taper than the rear tapered end the valve stem, all as clearly indicated in 1g.'1. 1

The casing isprovided on its front side and in alignment with the rear casing opening 17 with a forwardly extending tubular'portion 20, suitably formed, such as by the provision of the threads 21, for attachment to the tank or container for the water to be heated. Ad-

justably secured within the opening of this tubular extension is the threaded innerend portion of an expansible tube 22, of any suitable material such as copper. .Arranged within this tube is a substantially non-expansible thermostatic member, such as a carbon rod or pencil-23. The rear end of this carbon rod engages or otherwise suitably co-operates with the forward end of the valve stem 12 and thereby effects the operation of the valve 8 according to the temperature of the Water to be heated. The front end of the copper tube 22 is closedby solder or other suitable means and I a plug 24'is interposed betweensuch end and the front end of the carbon rod. A capshaped member 25 is also interposed between the adjacent ends of the valve stem and the carbon rod for the protection of-the latter.

In order to securely maintain the copper tube 22 in proper adjusted position relative to the casing extension 20, a pair of lock nuts 28 and 29 are provided, both of which are mounted upon the threaded inner end portion of said tube in telescopic relation therewith. Lock nut 28 is adapted to engage the forward end of the casing extension20 while lock nut 29 is adapted to engage an annular shoulder 30 formed by enlarging the rear end portion of the boreor opening of said extension. The two lock nuts, therefore engage opposed shoulders of the casing extension and securelymaintainthe copper tube in proper adjusted position relative to said extension.

The rear or internal lock nut'29 is provided with'a rearwardly extending portion an unthreaded bore of reduced diameterso as ordinary household use.

to provide a guide means for the valve adjusted relative to the casing extension 20 until. the valve 8 is brought to its seat on the cross wall 4 so as to therebyclose the cross wall opening 7. When the valve has thus been brought to its'seat, the outer or forward lock nut 28 is then moved to a position on the copper tube in engagement with the forward end of the casing extension 20, it being understood that during the adjusting of the copper tube, both the locknuts 28 and 29 are separated the maximum amount so that they do not engage the casing extension. After the lock nut 28 has been secured in position, thegas'or air conduits are disconnected from thecasing and theclosure 16, the compression spring 14, thevalve- 8 and the valve stem 12 are removed. Convenient access is therefore 'afi'orded for the manipulation of the internal lock nut '29, which is moved forwardly into engagement with the annular shoulder 300i the casingextension 20, thereby co-operating with the'outer or forward lock nut 28 in securely maintaining the copper tube 20 in proper adjusted position. The valve stem 12, the valve 8 and the compression spring 14 are then replacedand the. closure '16 is then applied to the casing so as to close the rear opening 17 thereo Thethreaded connection ofthe copper tube 22 to the casing extension 20 and to the two lock nuts 28 and 29 effectively prevent the entrance of the watertobe heated into the gas chambers 5 and-6, and without 'theuse of packed joints. V

What I-claim is:

1. Thermostatic valve 1nechanism,c0mprising a hollow casing having an internal cross walldi-viding the space Within said casing into two gas receiving chambers, said cross wall being provided with an openin O for establishing communication between said chambers, a valve for controlling the flow of gas through said opening and provided with a stem, thermostatic elements co-operatively associated with said stem, one of said elements being adjustably secured to said casing,.and' opposed locking means for maintaining said thermostatic element in adjusted position. v

2. Thermostatic valve mechanism, comprising a hollow casing having an internal as a guide for said valve stem.

3. Thermostatic valve mechanism, comprising a hollow casing having an internal cross wall dividing the space within said easing into two gas receiving chambers, said cross wall being provided with an opening for-establishing communication between said chambers, a valve for controlling the flow of gas through said opening and provided with a stem, thermostatic elements co-operatively associated with said stem, one of said thermostatic elements being adjustably secured to said casing, and lock'nuts for maintaining said thermostatic element in adjusted position, one of said lock nuts being also adapted to serve as a guide for said valvestem.

4:. Thermostatic valve mechanism, com-,

prising a hollow casing provided with openings in two-opposite sides thereof, a crosswall within said casing dividing the space therein into two gas receivingchambers, said cross wall being provided with an opening for establishing communication between said chambers, a valve for controlling the fiow of gas through said cross Wall opening and provided with a stem, thermostatic elements cooperatively associated with said valve stem and closing one of said casing openings, a removable guide member for said valve stem, and a closure for said other casing opening, the parts being so constructed and arranged that said guide member is removable through the opening in the cross wall and through the casing opening which is closed by said closure. v 1

5. Thermostatic valve mechanism, comprising a hollow casing having an internal. cross wall dividing-the space within said casing into two gas receiving chambers, said cross wall being provided with an opening for-establishing communication between said chambers, a valve for controlling the flow of gas through said opening and provided with a stem, thermostatic elements cooperatively associated with said stem, one of said thermostatic elements being adjustably secured to said casing, and a pair oflock nuts for maintaining said thermostatic elements in adjusted position, one of said lock nuts being arranged outside of said casing and the otherv of said lock nuts being arranged within'said casing and servingas a guide for said valve stem.

6. Thermostatic valve mechanism, comprising a hollow casing having an internal cross wall dividing the space within said casing into two gas receiving chambers, said cross wall being provided with an opening for establishing communication between said chambers, a valve for controlling the flow of gas through said opening and provided with a stem, thermostatic elements cooperatively associated with said stein, one of said thermostatic elements being adjustabl'y secured to said casing, and a pair of lock nuts mounted upon said thermostatic element for maintaining the same in adjusted position, one of said lock nuts being arranged outside of said casing and the other of said lock nuts being arranged within said casing and serving as a guide for said valve stem.

7. Thermostatic valve mechanism, comprising a hollow casing having an internal cross wall dividing the space within said'casing into two gas receiving chambers, said cross wall being provided with an opening for establishing communication between said chambers, a valve for controlling the flow'of gas through said opening and provided with a stem, thermostatic elements cooperatively associated with said stem, one of said thermo static elements being of tubular form, and a guide member for said valve stem having an opening to receive one end portion of said tubular thermostatic element, said valve stem having a portion lying within that portion of the tubular thermostatic element which is arranged within said guide openin In testimony whereof I hereby affix my signature.

CLARENCE H. MORROW. 

